16 group costumes we want to see in Durham this Halloween

‘Tis the season where a whole aisle in the supermarket turns orange and purple, leaves on the trees are starting to fall, and everybody is suddenly craving a warm caramel or pumpkin beverage.

Indeed, the perfect occasion for a costume is approaching.

It’s never too early to start planning for the Halloween bender, so here are 16 of our favourite ideas for when you and the house wanna hit the town!

Sirens and sailors

@xoanyvn

The siren 🐚🦪 #halloweenmakeup #halloweeninspo #sirenmakeup #mermaidmakeup #mermaid

♬ original sound – -ˋˏ✦༺𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫༻✦ˎˊ˗

I love this idea so much. There’s so much potential with this costume concept, as you can be either a sailor or siren based on your personal style, and yet the group will still look cohesive. This can be as high-effort or low-effort as you feel like, and is one of the few costumes that is both gorgeous and spooky.

Alice in Wonderland

@aoifegormanart

Yayyyy halloween 2024! @_orlaithgorman @lozz070707 @alannaoconnor #aliceinwonderland #groupcostume #costume #whiterabbit #madhatter #queenofhearts

♬ original sound – wuvky – ✮

The perfect group costume, in my opinion. My friends and I did this last year and it was such fun putting it all together. This one is recognisable, versatile, and colourful. Would love to see some Mad Hatters and Cheshire Cats roaming around Durham!

Traitor / Faithfuls

It’s topical, present, and relatively easy to pull off. In honour of the return of Traitors (with Celebrity Traitors as a constant in all of our lives for the season), you could dress up in the dramatic robes. Spookiness and drama – what more do you want?

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

A completely underrated concept. There are so many ways you could approach this: Whether you dress as Emma, with her iconic silver boots, Olive, with her flaming red hair and gloves, Hugh, with his beekeeper outfit, or Alma Peregrine herself.

Mario characters 

Most Read

Three couples were together at MAFS UK 2025 reunion, but their statuses are very different now

‘It was love’: Reiss admits he got back with his ex after split from MAFS UK bride Leisha

Confirmed: Every Selling Sunset agent who definitely will or won’t return for a season 10

There are so many to choose from. You can do whatever you want with it, and make it as dramatic as you like. You can be as glamorous or casual as you like with this one. It may not be as spooky as some of the others, but is still an iconic and fun group costume with something for everybody.

Games

I love this idea. Whether you’re all the different Cluedo characters, each a different game (like Twister, the Monopoly man, or Operation), or chess pieces, there is so much potential with this costume concept.

Check out this TikTok for some fabulous inspiration.

@fallflavors

Replying to @emuuulita halloween costume idea for a group of 5!! 🤒🍭🔍🌈💰#halloween #halloweencostume #costumeideas #costumeinspo #fypviralシ

♬ Army Dreamers – MC Mablo Dos Paredões

Gnomes

This one is fun, easy, and perfect for groups of any size. Why not channel your inner garden gnome this 31st October? Bonus points if it’s Gnomeo and Juliet themed – and an extra point if someone is the frog.

Monster High dolls

The perfect opportunity for spooky glam, why not dress as one of these divas this Halloween? With so many different characters in the Monster High universe, there’s a perfect costume for everyone in your uni group.

@bellabreese

FREAK SHOW SLAY🐆 shot by @Ty Gunner | Photographer #monsterhigh #monsterhighdolls #halloween #groupcostume #halloween2023 #frankiestein

♬ original sound – mika

Gatsby… Or just Art Deco vibes

‘Tis the season for booze, parties, and drama. 1920s outfits are stunning, flamboyant, and relatively easy to pull off. Although, students probably won’t spring for champagne towers – expect Aldi prosecco pyramids at best.

Bonus points if you make references to Fitzgerald’s novella, complete with elaborate costumes, a string of (absolutely real…) £350,000 pearls, and a dazzling green light. I think it’s about time Daisy and Myrtle hit the cobbles of the Bailey.

@bella.bowes

Having a good time old sport? @Stellaackerie #greatgatsby #roaring20s #1920s

♬ original sound – jeaxxxas

A variety of Tim Burton characters 

@oceanemariolle

Tim Burton edition 🍫 halloween costume ideas !!🎃 #halloween #costumeideas #halloweencostume #timburton #halloween2025

♬ Army dreamers slowed reverb – Shivzi

I don’t know about you, but I would personally love to see Lydia, The Hatter, Alice, Emily, and Jack Skellington hit Jimmy’s together this October. There are so many options and combinations of characters, so there will be a perfect costume for you and all your friends.

Different Durham clubs

Right, hear me out. I really want to see a group of people dressed as Jimmy’s, Bab’s, Fab’s, Klute, and Ozzy’s. All it would take is a little colour coding and some printing (or drawing, if you’re feeling artsy) to replicate the logos. Not sure how you will decide where to end the night though…

A club crawl may be the only way to keep tensions low.

Sims

Especially fitting in Durham — half of college life already feels like someone forgot to give the Sims basic cooking skills. This is such an easy costume. You won’t have to buy anything new, which is really helpful for keeping costs low and avoiding buying loads of items you’ll only wear once. All you need is a little patience when it comes to making the plumbob. Plus, you get to wear your own clothes, while looking like you actually made an effort. I promise, whippna choba dog.

@_juliyav_

Last minute 🤩👀 #diy #halloween #sims4

♬ original sound – The Sims

Coraline

The reason this one made its way onto the list has nothing to do with the fact that I have watched this film over 100 times and know it word for word. This is the perfect group costume – and I would actually pay to see Miss Spink and Miss Forcible at Fab’s.

@zaires.spooks

happy halloween costume Friday!! can you believe that this is my first time doing coraline with a wig lol? #coraline #halloweencostume #costumeidea #coralinejones #halloweenlook

♬ Other Father Song – They Might Be Giants

Pretty Little Liars

Fun and spooky but actually really easy to pull off. Bonus points if you make the girl who likes to run away on a night out Alison DiLaurentis…

@carliewhalen

The Ali D💛 @IamSashaPieterse #alisondilaurentis #prettylittleliars #alisonpll #pll #alisoncostume #pllcostume #alisondilaurentisstyle #halloween2023

♬ DONTTRUSTME – 3OH!3

Biblically accurate angels 

This would look unbelievably cool. If you’re feeling extra creative and fancy properly committing to the bit, this could be the perfect Halloween costume for you and your mates. Simply divine.

@daniellemarcan

happy halloween #makeup #beauty

♬ original sound – Fontaines D.C.

For more of the latest news, guides, gossip, and memes, follow The Durham Tab on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.